Does it matter?
Realistic on what level? As a character or do you get to blurr the line and seem to be a real person, thereby being even scarier when you get mentally off-center?
Do customers ever ask you or other actors if you have ever been trained as an "actor"?
Do you get enough time in your haunted venue to act the way that you would want to act, as far as time or the best situational opportunitys?

l believe you can be as realistic as you want..the more the better. If your really real, so to speak, you freak the shit out of the customers. l've found that to be very true. don't conversate with them and lf you do stay in character especially to those who have not gone through the attraction yet. When l'm working in house l never take a break, because l believe lt breaks the barrier....lf they see you walking around going to the bathroom,smoking and takin pic, lt breaks the realism factor

Depends on what the situation, the scene, calls for. Yes you can go for realism, but sometimes it isn't what your patrons wish to see. On occasion the scene you're in is over-the-top; zombie radiation area, clown playroom, french chef kitchen, and so on, that scream twisted wackyness don't really fit the profile of "real". So what would be more entertaning given this scene? A realistic character is plausible, but an over-the-top one doesn't sound too bad either.

Sometimes a customer will hazard to ask me or just say it out loud,"Are you crazy?"
Or they put it in a more deragatory form:"Are you nuts?"
Then I may remind them that "they" bought a ticket to see "my" house, not the other way around.
I try to impress upon them that I am now incharge of their immeadiate "fate"and maybe (at least in some ways?)" I might be more smarterz than thay R?"
But of course with a whole different outlook concerning what should be happening to them as they are now a prisoner here with little or no rights. This all looks pretty dire seeing it in type but this whole message is more subtle than not, I think. I hope.
When I am walking them through the concrete exit tunnel I am telling them the truth, I did dig the whole thing myself with a rather small shovel..when the average person begins to consider the physical commitment such a work-project requires..then they may become scard because they ARE in the close company of a really commited individual, and of course "commited" usually seems to have a negative connotation anymore.
Of course I also did all the cement carrying and pouring and rebar work and form work, it ain't quick nor easy making a heavy-duty form snake around like that with a rounded ceiling and sidewalls bending back and forth so you "just" can't quite see around the curve just too far... a curved wall is inviting them to make a gradual decision as to whether proceed or not which throws the "blame" for them possibly then getting scared back upon them..a little bit.

i like to screw with the minds, and talk to them "out of character" (when in reality, still in character). I like to complain about how dangerous the place is. "Man, you should have been here last night when the lady was stabbed with the pitchfork. What a MESS that was! How they kept it out of the papers I'll never guess." Or my favorite, "You're wearing sandals? Don't you know about the rats? You couldn't PAY me enough to come in here with exposed toes at rodent level. You're a braver person than I!" Then again, that only works if you're in make up and NOT a rubber mask!

ahh yeah people walking through have asked if I was an actor..it almost ruins it though. but yeah I think I have tried to perfect my part in the haunt. I've purposly broke down crying, lost my voice countless times screaming, had to deal with real spiders crawling next to me while trying to keep in character! thats hard!, and i've injured myself all too much on faulty, oversized props...lol. But yeah, its cool though i enjoy it...so i guess the job comes with knowing whats invloved in a way.

A club that I belong to is putting on a haunted corn maze this year. We opened last Fri and Sat night. Overall I think it is going pretty well.
Anyway, I am playing a scarecrow. So instead of realistic I am going for the fake approach. I am perched up on a cross and when the time is right I jump down, or just scare them. I like to size them up as I watch them come toward me. If I think they might swing I make sure I don't get close or I might not jump down at all. The only one I have had swing on me so far did so as he was jumping away from me. He was a good 4 feet away from me swinging like he was killing bees. We both got a big laugh out of it.
Like I said I try to look fake, like a stuffed dummy. One woman walked right up to me and tapped on my boots, then pushed in on my leg and said "that is SO fake". This put the rest of their group at ease and when I saw a gap between people I jump down yelling. Half ran one way and half ran the other.
Realistic may not always be the best approach. So far everyone that has seen me thinks I am a dummy. Hmm that doesn't look as good in type as it sounded in my head. :lol:

i play a toxic clown, so i go mentally insane, and just laugh between my sentences. i love asking them questions, and just getting inside their heads.

sometimes i just act very curious about the person, and then explode into a fit and go bezerk. those who hate clowns are scared out of their wits, wheile everyone else is having a blast. its soo much fun.

realism is good...since my character is...well...hehe....somewhat of a balanced human being, I am allowed to talk to the people...I usually start telling them the history of my hotel and tease at what I plan on doing....never give them details. When they ask if I'm trained as an actor...always respond in character....for those who think that the person was being a jerk, you just put them in their place. For that person, it makes them (usually lol) realise that you're serious about what your doing. It also just adds to the overall fun that everyone has....well anyways....happy haunting everyone...its just a lil cold in here and I think it's time I heat things up a lil

"Do I look like I got run over by a train!?"
Do you see the edge of my training pants sticking above my big-person pants?
"Trained", think about the word. The engine pulls, all the cars are forced to follow.
I just decided I don't like the word "Trained" anymore.
Why should I tie myself , then follow some huffing and puffing whistle -blowing full of hot air blowhard?
"Choo, choo, choo, spit, swallow!
Belch! Phartt! Away we go! Follow me! Suck my poisons!